The annual New Year’s morning hike and steep Slieve Donard climb meant a very rise. Now in its eleventh year the trek from Donard Car Park to the pinnacle of Northern Ireland’s largest mountain saw a larger number on the slopes, due predominantly to the milder weather.
The majority of the climb is in darkness with the path lit by the various head torches of those making the trip. The early 4.30am wake up call paid off (photographically) as we made our way back down from the tip and the sun began to rise breaking through the winter cloud. The image below features Slieve Bearnagh captured from the saddle on our return journey.
Slieve Donard Climb
New Year’s Day 2017 was a very different experience to last year when we trekked up through the show and freezing temperatures. You can see photos from 2016 here. The dramatic skylines had diminished by the time we reached the ice hut along the Glenn River and the view back to the saddle resembled a summers day rather than the 1st of January.(See top image).
I was documenting the climb with the trusty Fujifilm X-Pro2 and Fujinon 16-55mm lens. You can see more photos of a previous visit to Slieve Donard in with the X-Pro2 in February 2016 here.
Happy New Year!
Links
New Year’s Day on Donard 2016
New Year’s Day on Donard 2014
